Two By Two

For Some People, And Some Breeds, One Is Never Enough

"My first choice 25 years ago was to get a St. Bernard," says Marlene Wells of Mt. Prospect. "But I fell in love with a girlfriend's miniature dachshund, and I've been in love ever since."

After her original little wiener dog, Wells has never been without at least two dachshunds and has had as many as five. "I confess, it may be an addiction," she says. "But I don't believe I want help for this problem--they're just too cute."

Dogs are pack animals and enjoy companionship. But some breeds always seem to be found in matching pairs, or three or four or even five of a kind.

Beagles, like most scent hounds, have been bred to work and live together, so owners who opt for a trio of beagles have an excuse: The dogs love it. Unfortunately, neighbors might not love it so much. Get two or more beagles together, and you have a howling chorus.

Greyhound owners talk about how their dogs look so elegant standing side by side. Dachshunds and foo-foo poodles are examples of dogs that just look cute together, closely followed by corgis and Scottish and West Highland white terriers. Some owners like the checkerboard black-and-white look, one Scottie, one Westie; or one Pembroke Welsh corgi (the kind without the tail) and one Cardigan Welsh corgi (with the tail).

This need for two or more of a kind isn't limited to owners of small dogs. Ever notice how often you observe two great Danes together? Even on TV commercials, or in one particular "Bewitched" episode, owners have two or more of these giant dogs, as if one weren't intimidating enough.

Owners of Jack Russell terriers figure that having one pal or more helps keep these active dogs busy.

"That's true," says Kathleen Hardy, of the Midwest branch of the Jack Russell Terrier Club in Chicago. "Sharing life with one Jack Russell is interesting, with two it's challenging, three is daunting, but living with four is downright over the top. No question: Your life will be run by your dogs. But then, that's the way lots of people like it."